1 nov 2019
Israeli tanks and warplanes on Thursday night bombed several resistance sites in the Gaza Strip with no casualties reported.
An Israeli army spokesman said that they targeted two Hamas-owned posts near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
He claimed in a brief statement that the attacks came in response to a rocket fired earlier from the Gaza Strip toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
Army Fires Artillery Shells Into Gaza
Israeli soldiers fired, on Thursday at night, several artillery shells and rounds of live ammunition, east of Gaza city, causing excessive property damage.
Media sources in Gaza said the soldiers fired shells into two buildings, reportedly used by the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, causing damage to the structures and some surrounding buildings.
They added that the attack did not lead to casualties, while firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the two sites.
In addition, the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live fire at a site east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza, while military drones flew across the eastern parts of the coastal region.
The Israeli army issued a brief statement claiming it was responding to shells fired from the Gaza Strip, into nearby Israeli areas.
An Israeli army spokesman said that they targeted two Hamas-owned posts near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
He claimed in a brief statement that the attacks came in response to a rocket fired earlier from the Gaza Strip toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
Army Fires Artillery Shells Into Gaza
Israeli soldiers fired, on Thursday at night, several artillery shells and rounds of live ammunition, east of Gaza city, causing excessive property damage.
Media sources in Gaza said the soldiers fired shells into two buildings, reportedly used by the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, causing damage to the structures and some surrounding buildings.
They added that the attack did not lead to casualties, while firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the two sites.
In addition, the soldiers fired dozens of rounds of live fire at a site east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza, while military drones flew across the eastern parts of the coastal region.
The Israeli army issued a brief statement claiming it was responding to shells fired from the Gaza Strip, into nearby Israeli areas.
19 sept 2019
Siren heard in Gaza-border towns and in the city of Sderot; no known casualties or damage; Iron Dome reportedly activated; IDF says 'incident under investigation'
Rocket sirens sounded in southern Israel Wednesday, after rockets were allegedly shot from the Gaza Strip at border-neighboring towns. IDF reported no projectiles were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Rocket sirens went off at 18:16, while hundreds of children and their parents gathered at a local community center in the southern city of Sderot, waiting for a concert. The sirens lead to wide spread panic and the concert was cancelled.
Community Center Director Limor Cohen described the incident as a "mass hysteria".
"We just cannot believe that this has happened again. Children fainted and many suffer from trauma," said Cohen.
Civilians reported hearing explosions, probably from Iron Dome launches. The IDF said the sirens were a false alarm and there were no rockets fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip
Rocket sirens were also heard Wednesday night in Eshkol Regional Council. IDF reported the rocket didn't cross the Gaza border and landed in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
It is not the first time rocket sirens are heard during a mass event in Sderot. This August, rockets were shot at the southern city while some 4,000 people attended the Sderot Live Festival, creating mass hysteria.
Rocket sirens sounded in southern Israel Wednesday, after rockets were allegedly shot from the Gaza Strip at border-neighboring towns. IDF reported no projectiles were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Rocket sirens went off at 18:16, while hundreds of children and their parents gathered at a local community center in the southern city of Sderot, waiting for a concert. The sirens lead to wide spread panic and the concert was cancelled.
Community Center Director Limor Cohen described the incident as a "mass hysteria".
"We just cannot believe that this has happened again. Children fainted and many suffer from trauma," said Cohen.
Civilians reported hearing explosions, probably from Iron Dome launches. The IDF said the sirens were a false alarm and there were no rockets fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip
Rocket sirens were also heard Wednesday night in Eshkol Regional Council. IDF reported the rocket didn't cross the Gaza border and landed in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
It is not the first time rocket sirens are heard during a mass event in Sderot. This August, rockets were shot at the southern city while some 4,000 people attended the Sderot Live Festival, creating mass hysteria.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that seven residents were injured, Wednesday, apparently when a homemade shell was fired from Gaza targeting nearby Israeli settlements but landed and detonated in a home in the eastern area of Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region.
The sources stated that medical and rescue crews rushed to the home and moved the seven Palestinians to Abu Yousef Najjar Hospital, in Rafah.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the seven Palestinians were moved to the hospital but did not elaborate on the extent of their wounds.
It is worth mentioning that sirens were sounds in Israeli settlements close to the Gaza Strip before the army said the homemade shells did not make it across the fence and detonated in Gaza.
The sources stated that medical and rescue crews rushed to the home and moved the seven Palestinians to Abu Yousef Najjar Hospital, in Rafah.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the seven Palestinians were moved to the hospital but did not elaborate on the extent of their wounds.
It is worth mentioning that sirens were sounds in Israeli settlements close to the Gaza Strip before the army said the homemade shells did not make it across the fence and detonated in Gaza.
12 sept 2019
Speaking ahead of his flight to Russia, the prime minister says Israel will embark on a widescale campaign in Gaza but it will not happen until the country is ready; 'I don't base my policy on tweets,' he says
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said there’s no other option but “to overthrow the Hamas regime” in the Gaza Strip.
Dozens of rockets have been fired into southern Israel by the militant groups in Gaza, one of which was aimed at the city of Ashdod during Netanyahu’s election conference speech, prompting his security personnel to rush him off the stage.
"It looks like there will be no other choice but to embark on a wide scale campaign (in Gaza),” Netanyahu said in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet Radio shortly before his flight to Sochi, where he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since 2015.
“There will be a military operation but I will only launch it when we are ready and not a minute earlier. I don’t base my policy on tweets," said the prime minister.
The statement is similar to the remarks Netanyahu during election campaign in 2009, just weeks after the 2008 Gaza war, known as Operation Cast Lead. “We need action to remove the threat. There is only one way to do that - overthrow the Hamas regime in Gaza,” he said in a speech in the city of Ashkelon 10 years ago.
The prime minister also said he wasn’t fazed by the rocket alert sirens during his speech in Ashdod despite immediately being taken to safety by his security guards. "I was calm and collected, I spoke quietly to the people in the audience and told them to evacuate,” Netanyahu said.
"I was in the Kirya (IDF headquarters base in Tel Aviv) during Operation Protective Edge. Once I was even talking to Obama, I told him 'I'm sorry, I have to stop, we're going down to the bomb shelter'”.
Netanyahu also said it would be “absurd” if he remained on stage despite the sirens alerting of an incoming rocket. “I wouldn't stand there like some kind of macho, telling everyone to stand still with me so we can all get hit by a missile,” he said.
“I acted in accordance with the Shin Bet protocol, that’s what you should do in these situations … anyone who tells you otherwise is being irresponsible,” Netanyahu said, referring to Blue and White leader Benny Gantz praise for Gabi Ashkenazi for remaining on stage in Ashkelon where sirens blared at the same time as in Ashdod.
Prior to his departure to Sochi, Netanyahu said the focus of his talks with Putin would be to promote the "joint goal" of removing Iranian forces from neighboring Syria. Netanyahu and Putin have met regularly in recent years to coordinate military activities in Syria.
Netanyahu has for years argued for aggressively countering Iran's nuclear program and its regional belligerency and often takes pride in having a strong working relationship with both Putin and Trump.
However, Netanyahu's clout in Washington appeared to take a hit this week with the firing of one of his like-minded allies in the administration, National Security Adviser John Bolton, and amid reports that Trump was considering meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and easing sanctions against Iran.
In his radio interview, Netanyahu defended his record.
"Where did this strong sanctions policy against Iran come from if not from the struggle that I led? Indeed, I have had influence on Trump," he said. "You can't tell the president of the United States with whom he should meet, but there is not one person who has influenced more, and continues to influence, the aggressive stance against Iran than me, and everyone knows that."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said there’s no other option but “to overthrow the Hamas regime” in the Gaza Strip.
Dozens of rockets have been fired into southern Israel by the militant groups in Gaza, one of which was aimed at the city of Ashdod during Netanyahu’s election conference speech, prompting his security personnel to rush him off the stage.
"It looks like there will be no other choice but to embark on a wide scale campaign (in Gaza),” Netanyahu said in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet Radio shortly before his flight to Sochi, where he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since 2015.
“There will be a military operation but I will only launch it when we are ready and not a minute earlier. I don’t base my policy on tweets," said the prime minister.
The statement is similar to the remarks Netanyahu during election campaign in 2009, just weeks after the 2008 Gaza war, known as Operation Cast Lead. “We need action to remove the threat. There is only one way to do that - overthrow the Hamas regime in Gaza,” he said in a speech in the city of Ashkelon 10 years ago.
The prime minister also said he wasn’t fazed by the rocket alert sirens during his speech in Ashdod despite immediately being taken to safety by his security guards. "I was calm and collected, I spoke quietly to the people in the audience and told them to evacuate,” Netanyahu said.
"I was in the Kirya (IDF headquarters base in Tel Aviv) during Operation Protective Edge. Once I was even talking to Obama, I told him 'I'm sorry, I have to stop, we're going down to the bomb shelter'”.
Netanyahu also said it would be “absurd” if he remained on stage despite the sirens alerting of an incoming rocket. “I wouldn't stand there like some kind of macho, telling everyone to stand still with me so we can all get hit by a missile,” he said.
“I acted in accordance with the Shin Bet protocol, that’s what you should do in these situations … anyone who tells you otherwise is being irresponsible,” Netanyahu said, referring to Blue and White leader Benny Gantz praise for Gabi Ashkenazi for remaining on stage in Ashkelon where sirens blared at the same time as in Ashdod.
Prior to his departure to Sochi, Netanyahu said the focus of his talks with Putin would be to promote the "joint goal" of removing Iranian forces from neighboring Syria. Netanyahu and Putin have met regularly in recent years to coordinate military activities in Syria.
Netanyahu has for years argued for aggressively countering Iran's nuclear program and its regional belligerency and often takes pride in having a strong working relationship with both Putin and Trump.
However, Netanyahu's clout in Washington appeared to take a hit this week with the firing of one of his like-minded allies in the administration, National Security Adviser John Bolton, and amid reports that Trump was considering meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and easing sanctions against Iran.
In his radio interview, Netanyahu defended his record.
"Where did this strong sanctions policy against Iran come from if not from the struggle that I led? Indeed, I have had influence on Trump," he said. "You can't tell the president of the United States with whom he should meet, but there is not one person who has influenced more, and continues to influence, the aggressive stance against Iran than me, and everyone knows that."
The Israeli Air Force fired several missiles into the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday at night, reportedly after shells were fired from the coastal region into Hof Ashkelon and Kibbutz Zikim, causing minor damage.
Media sources in the Gaza Strip said the Israeli army fired at least two missiles into a site, believed to be run by the al-Qassam Brigades the armed wing of Hamas in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, damaging it and causing fire.
They added that, just minutes after the first strike, the army fired missile into the same site, and destroyed it.
On Monday evening, the soldiers abducted two Palestinians, who reportedly breached the perimeter fence, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and claimed that the two carried knives and wire cutters.
Israeli sources said the Air Force fired many targets in northern Gaza after rockets sirens were sounded in Kibbutz Zikim and Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, close to the fence with Gaza.
They added that some of the sirens were later reported as false alarms, but said that, on Wednesday evening, a shell which was fired from Gaza, caused minor damage to a home in Hof Ashkelon.
On Monday at night, the Israeli army targeted fifteen sites in area in the northern and central parts of the Gaza Strip, and said that the targeted structures included “a weapons’ production structure,” in addition to “a compound for Hamas’s armed wing and a naval force center.”
Media sources in the Gaza Strip said the Israeli army fired at least two missiles into a site, believed to be run by the al-Qassam Brigades the armed wing of Hamas in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, damaging it and causing fire.
They added that, just minutes after the first strike, the army fired missile into the same site, and destroyed it.
On Monday evening, the soldiers abducted two Palestinians, who reportedly breached the perimeter fence, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and claimed that the two carried knives and wire cutters.
Israeli sources said the Air Force fired many targets in northern Gaza after rockets sirens were sounded in Kibbutz Zikim and Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, close to the fence with Gaza.
They added that some of the sirens were later reported as false alarms, but said that, on Wednesday evening, a shell which was fired from Gaza, caused minor damage to a home in Hof Ashkelon.
On Monday at night, the Israeli army targeted fifteen sites in area in the northern and central parts of the Gaza Strip, and said that the targeted structures included “a weapons’ production structure,” in addition to “a compound for Hamas’s armed wing and a naval force center.”
10 sept 2019
IDF says 2 of the rockets fired by Gaza militants intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system as the city of Ashkelon orders to open all public bomb shelters
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was rushed to safety Tuesday night as rocket alert sirens blared in the southern city of Ashdod as he was giving an election campaign speech.
Sirens also sounded in Ashkelon and other communities close to the Gaza border shortly after 9pm sending the residents running to their bomb shelters.
The prime minister was rushed off stage by his security detail as the sirens sounded a little after 9pm.
Netanyahu told the audience to remain calm as his guards led him away.
"We have a code red warning, leave quietly," Netanyahu told his supporters and asked the security guards, "Where should they go?"
Culture Minister Miri Regev was present at the event and moved to another area of the hall.
After the siren, Netanyahu returned to finish speech and tweeted: "Great support in Ashdod. You must vote to stop a leftwing-Arab government."
Israel goes to the polls for the second time this year next Tuesday, for elections triggered by Netanyahu after he failed to form a government following the April vote.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, a former ally turned vehement political opponent of Netanyahu, was also in Ashdod at the time of the rocket fire.
In a post on his Facebook page, Liberman wrote after the rocket alert that, "today's event proves that Netanyahu's policy, which means surrendering to terrorism, is bankrupt. There must be a change of direction and the first phase will be at the ballot box on September 17."
The Israeli military said some of the rockets fired by the Gaza militants were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.
Shortly after the attacks, Ashkelon Municipality said it has ordered all public bomb shelters in the city to be opened.
There were no reports of injuries or damage. One woman in her 40s was treated for shock.
In recent days there have been rocket sirens both from the Gaza Strip and also in the north. The defense establishment has been preparing for further rocket attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was rushed to safety Tuesday night as rocket alert sirens blared in the southern city of Ashdod as he was giving an election campaign speech.
Sirens also sounded in Ashkelon and other communities close to the Gaza border shortly after 9pm sending the residents running to their bomb shelters.
The prime minister was rushed off stage by his security detail as the sirens sounded a little after 9pm.
Netanyahu told the audience to remain calm as his guards led him away.
"We have a code red warning, leave quietly," Netanyahu told his supporters and asked the security guards, "Where should they go?"
Culture Minister Miri Regev was present at the event and moved to another area of the hall.
After the siren, Netanyahu returned to finish speech and tweeted: "Great support in Ashdod. You must vote to stop a leftwing-Arab government."
Israel goes to the polls for the second time this year next Tuesday, for elections triggered by Netanyahu after he failed to form a government following the April vote.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, a former ally turned vehement political opponent of Netanyahu, was also in Ashdod at the time of the rocket fire.
In a post on his Facebook page, Liberman wrote after the rocket alert that, "today's event proves that Netanyahu's policy, which means surrendering to terrorism, is bankrupt. There must be a change of direction and the first phase will be at the ballot box on September 17."
The Israeli military said some of the rockets fired by the Gaza militants were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.
Shortly after the attacks, Ashkelon Municipality said it has ordered all public bomb shelters in the city to be opened.
There were no reports of injuries or damage. One woman in her 40s was treated for shock.
In recent days there have been rocket sirens both from the Gaza Strip and also in the north. The defense establishment has been preparing for further rocket attacks.
The Palestinian resistance at an early hour Tuesday shot down an Israeli drone as it was overflying the southern areas of the Gaza Strip.
According to Quds Press, resistance fighters opened fire at a drone (quadcopter) and seized it after it fell down in a southern area of Gaza.
The Israeli occupation army, for its part, confirmed it had lost contact with one of its drones while on a reconnaissance mission over Gaza at an early morning hour today.
The circumstances of the incident are being investigated, but Israeli military sources noted that there was no fear that any sensitive information was leaked.
In recent years, the Palestinian resistance in Gaza controlled and seized different types of Israeli drones.
According to Quds Press, resistance fighters opened fire at a drone (quadcopter) and seized it after it fell down in a southern area of Gaza.
The Israeli occupation army, for its part, confirmed it had lost contact with one of its drones while on a reconnaissance mission over Gaza at an early morning hour today.
The circumstances of the incident are being investigated, but Israeli military sources noted that there was no fear that any sensitive information was leaked.
In recent years, the Palestinian resistance in Gaza controlled and seized different types of Israeli drones.
7 sept 2019
Israeli artillery opened fire today at a post in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip shortly after a drone flown from Gaza reportedly dropped explosives on an Israeli army vehicle, according to WAFA correspondent and Israeli reports.
WAFA correspondent said an Israeli jetfighter fired a missile and army artillery deployed inside the Israeli border in the south of the Gaza Strip, fired two shells at a post in the area destroying it completely and setting it on fire. No one was reportedly hurt.
Israeli military reports said the attack came after a drone was flown from Gaza over the border fence today dropped explosives on a military vehicle causing damage but no injuries.
Israeli warplanes had earlier attacked several posts in the north of the Gaza Strip causing damage but no injuries.
WAFA correspondent said an Israeli jetfighter fired a missile and army artillery deployed inside the Israeli border in the south of the Gaza Strip, fired two shells at a post in the area destroying it completely and setting it on fire. No one was reportedly hurt.
Israeli military reports said the attack came after a drone was flown from Gaza over the border fence today dropped explosives on a military vehicle causing damage but no injuries.
Israeli warplanes had earlier attacked several posts in the north of the Gaza Strip causing damage but no injuries.
